Nero was born on December 15, 37 AD and died on June 9, 68 AD. His name was originally Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. He was the last Roman emperor to be descended from Julius Caesar. He is known as a bad ruler and "the ruler that fiddled while Rome burned." His reputation is only half deserved since he started his reign as an excellent emperor.

He was born in Antium, a Mediterranean seaport (now Anzio, Italy). He was the son of Agrippina, a great grand daughter of Augustus and Claudius's last wife. She is known for scheming endlessly to get Nero onto the throne, killing anyone that stood in her way. These people included Claudius who was her uncle and also her third husband.

Nero became emperor in 54 and for the first five years of his reign he was excellent. He stopped gladiatorial games and contest that involved bloodshed and encouraged other activities like poetry, theater and athletics.

He became mad in 59 when he had his mother killed because of her insanity and fury at him. In 62, he divorced his wife Octavia, the daughter of Claudius, and married Poppaea Sabina. She did not last long as his wife however, because during her second pregnancy, Nero kicked her to death. After this, he became increasingly involved with the arts. The senate did not like this because an emperor was not supposed to be an actor, according to custom. He also became preoccupied with the religions of Greece and the Middle East. In 66 he traveled to Greece for 15 months to continue his religious quest. He also performed in athletic events and the theatre.

His behaviors caused the military and the senate to dislike him. He was not in Rome when it burned and the military became unhappy with his lack of attention to government, and he was soon abandoned by everyone. He stabbed himself in 68, and had his personal secretary finish the job.